Vocab 2 Flashcards
gov’t subject to strict limits on lawful uses of power& ability to deprive ppl of their liberty
limited gov’t
ppl govern through selection of their representatives; requires majority through its elected representatives has power to rule
representative gov’t
John Locke claimed this is what gov’t was founded on; voluntary agreement by individuals to form a gov’t that is then obligated to work within the confines of that agreement
social contract
those rights that persons theoretically possessed in the state of nature, prior to the formation of gov’ts; rights including those of life liberty, and property, are considered inherent and as such are inalienable; since gov’t is established by ppl, gov’t has the responsibility to preserve these rights; Natural Rights
Inalienable Rights
fundamental law that defines how a gov’t will legitimately operate
constitution
constitutional proposal for a strong Congress with 2 chambers, both based on numerical representation; granting more power to larger states
Virginia (large-state) Plan
constitutional proposal for a strengthened Congress but one in which each state would have a single vote, thus granting a small state the same legislative power as a larger state
New Jersey (small-state) Plan
create a two-chamber Congress w/ House apportioned by population and the Senate apportioned equally by state
Great Compromise
each slave to count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of federal taxation and congressional apportionment(# of seats in House of Representatives)
Three-Fifths Compromise
opponents of the Constitution during the debate over ratification
Anti- Federalists
1st ten amendments to the Constitution; include freedom of speech and religion and due process protections (such as the right to a jury trial) for persons accused of crimes
Bill of Rights
elaborate system of divided spheres of authority provided by the US Constitution as a means of controlling the power of gov’t; separation of powers among branches of national gov’t, federalism, & the different methods of selecting national officers are all part of system
checks and balances
gov’t that is constitutional in its provisions for minority rights & rule by law; democratic in its provisions for majority influence through elections; and a republic in its mix of deliberative institutions, which check and balance each other
constitutional democratic republic
elected representatives whose obligation is to act in accordance with the expressed wishes of the people they represent
delegates
gov’t which power of the majority is unlimited, whether exercised directly or through representative body
democracy (according to framers)
constitutional means of limiting governmental action by listing those powers that government is expressly prohibited from using
denials of power
unofficial term refers to electors who cast the states’ electoral votes
Electoral College
method of voting used to choose US president; each state has same #electoral votes as it has members in Congress (House & Senate combined); by tradition is tied to state’s popular voting; candidate w/ most popular votes in a state receives its electoral votes
ELECTORAL VOTES
supporters of the Constitution during the debate over ratification
Federalists
method of limiting the US gov’t by confining its scope of authority to those powers expressly granted in the Constitution
Grants Of POWER
power of courts; decide whether governmental institution has acted within its constitutional powers; if not declare its action NULL and VOID
Judicial Review
principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights and freedoms of others
liberty
voters choose a party’s nominees for public office; eligibility to vote limited to voters who designated themselves as party members when they registered to vote
primary election (direct primary)
ppls representatives decide policy through institutions structured in ways that foster deliberation, slow progress of decision making, and operate within restraints that protect individual liberty. To framers the Constitution’s separation of powers & other limits were defining features of republican form of gov’t as opposed to democratic form which places no limits on the majority
republic
principle that, as way to limit gov’t, powers should be divided among separate branches, each of which also
separated institutions sharing power
